Search locations or food
OR
Sign up

Top 9 Horse Dishes in the World

Last update: Thu Feb 13 2025
Top 9 Horse Dishes in the World
VIEW MORE
01

Appetizer

KAZAKHSTAN
3.8
Zhaya
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Zhaya is a traditional Kazakh meat delicacy made with horse meat. This specialty uses meat obtained from the animal’s hip (usually the upper muscular section covered with fat) and hind leg, which is salted, dried, and smoked. Typically, the finished product is boiled about two hours before consumption, and usually, it is served sliced with greens sprinkled on top.


Zhaya is mostly enjoyed as a cold appetizer alongside other horse meat specialties, although it can also be added to various dishes such as salads.

02
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

In Malta, horse meat is regarded as a local delicacy that is occasionally found on the menus of traditional restaurants. The meat is usually prepared as a stew that is marinated and then slowly cooked in a red-wine sauce, typically alongside onions, tomatoes, and various herbs and spices.


Horse meat stew is usually paired with roasted potatoes or crusty sourdough bread on the side.

03

Horse Dish

KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE, Japan
3.5
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Japanese basashi is an unusual dish which incorporates thin slices of raw horse meat. It belongs to the popular and broad group of sashimi dishes and is considered to be a unique Japanese delicacy. Horse meat is usually leaner than other, more traditional types, it has a slightly sweet flavor, and depending on the maturity, its color can range from pink to dark red.


Traditionally, three different meat cuts are used to prepare basashi. One variety includes completely trimmed meat, without any excess fat on the meat or around the meat pieces. It comes thinly sliced and has a slightly tougher texture. With an appealing color combination and perfect texture, one of the favorite options is the cut which includes meat pieces thoroughly marbled with fatty streaks. 

MOST ICONIC Basashi

View more
1
2
3
4
5
04
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Pezzetti di cavallo, translated as pieces of horse meat, is a traditional dish that uses horse meat as the star ingredient. The meat is primarily seared before it is doused in a flavorful tomato-based sauce that is enriched with carrots, celery, olive oil, bay leaves, and chili peppers, which are the essential elements used to balance the sweetness of horse meat.


The dish is traditionally prepared in terracotta pans, and it is slowly simmered until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the sauce achieves a thick consistency. Pezzetti di cavallo is usually associated with the region of Apulia, where it is a common main course that is often accompanied by slices of country-style bread on the side.

05

Stew

PROVINCE OF VERONA, Italy
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Pastissada de caval is an ancient horse meat stew that is nowadays a specialty of the Veronese cuisine. Due to the long cooking time, this dish is typically served as a second course at important occasions. It consists of horse meat, onions, carrots, cloves, and Valpolicella wine.


The stew is usually flavored with bay leaves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. When served, pastissada de caval is traditionally paired with creamy polenta on the side. It is believed that the invention of this dish can be attributed to Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, who fought with Odoacer, king of the Heruli. 

MOST ICONIC Pastissada de caval

View more
2
3
4
5
06

Appetizer

KAZAKHSTAN
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Zhal is one of an array of horse meat delicacies that are traditionally prepared in Kazakhstan. It is typically made by salting, drying, and smoking the oblong portion of fat coming from the underpart of the horse’s neck, which usually comes with a thin layer of flesh attached to it.


After it has been soaked in cold water, zhal is typically boiled and sliced before consumption. Slices of this meat specialty can be enjoyed while they’re still warm or chilled, and they’re usually garnished with onion rings on top.

07
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Polpette di cavallo is a spin on the classic Italian meatballs, but it contains horse meat (carne di cavallo) instead of veal or beef. This meat specialty is typically prepared with a mixture of ground horse meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, which is then shaped into meatballs which are the size of a small mandarin orange.


They're cooked in various ways - grilled inside lemon leaves, fried, baked, or simmered in sauces. This version of polpette is typical of Sicily (especially Catania), and it is a popular street food item that is commonly consumed as a snack or a second course. 
08

Horse Dish

KAZAKHSTAN
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Qarta is a horse meat dish popular in Kazakh and Kyrgyz culture. It consists of boiled and pan-fried horse rectum; specifically the last section of the digestive tract, not including the sphincter. Qarta is usually served as a side dish in a platter of qazy - a horse rib meat sausage - and with minimal seasoning.


Other methods of cooking Qarta involve either smoking and drying for 24 and 48 hours respectively, or simmering it with salt, green peppers, and dill.

09
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Carne di cavallo alla brace is a traditional Sicilian dish made with grilled horse meat. The phrase "alla brace" translates to "on the coals," indicating that the meat is cooked over an open flame or hot charcoal, which imparts a smoky and rich flavor to the dish.


Horse meat used for this dish is typically very lean, tender, and flavorful. It is often prepared as steaks, cutlets, or skewers. The meat is usually seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and sometimes olive oil to enhance its natural flavor without overpowering it. 

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.